All Chapters of A HEART REBORN IN RUIN: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Riya’s pov My life flashed before my eyes in a frantic, jumbled collage of screaming matches, the cold feel of silk sheets, and the one memory that burned brighter than the rest: the calm, calculating grey of Mateo’s eyes the first time he looked at and really made me feel alive.In that suspended second, as the car’s grille filled my entire vision, a single, stupidly clear thought cut through the panic: This can’t be my end. Not now. Not when I’d finally felt that dizzying, terrifying drive towards something that felt like love... I think. He’s a tough nut, that one. Most times, I can’t tell what goes on in that labyrinth of a mind. But he’s the only one who ever really saw me for me. And my only regret, a sharp and sudden ache in my chest, was that I didn’t get to spend more time figuring him out.Then, a miracle… or a trap. The car, a dark sedan that had been hell-bent on turning me into a hood ornament, screeched to a violent, shuddering halt, with its bumper just inches from my

Riya's pov "Wha... Wha... What do you want from me?" Kelvin's lips vibrated so violently the words barely escaped. He was shrinking before our eyes, hunching his shoulders, trying to make himself a smaller target."Piccolo..." Diablo's voice formed a low, chiding rumble as he took a deliberate step back and turned slightly sideways. "Your papito... he seemed like a reasonable guy to me." He paused, letting the past tense hang heavily in the air. "Well... at first. But as I got to see how he really handles his business..." He turned his head, locking his brutal gaze back onto Kelvin. "...I realized he's just an old dude with expired wisdom." He took a slow step forward. "See, Piccolo..." Another pause. "I never wanted to become your papito's enemy. But, mahn..." He gently, almost sadly, slammed a palm against his own forehead. "Your papito really went overboard this time."The shift was fascinating. The raw terror in Kelvin's eyes was momentarily diluted by a flicker of confused c

Riya's pov Slowly, trembling, I pushed myself up onto one elbow. I drew the hair away from my eyes with a shaking hand, locking my dizzy gaze onto his. "What..." I tried to steady my breath, as the words came out in a ragged whisper. "What did you… do with him?"He crouched before me, bringing his face level with mine. The smell of his expensive cologne was suddenly nauseating, and he held up the syringe, clicking his fingernail against the glass vial, making the clear, deadly liquid slosh gently.The world had narrowed to the point of a needle. Old dude Dhaval’s golden walking stick clattered to the asphalt, forming a sound of finality. His free, cold hand, heavy as marble, clamped down on my shoulder, pinning me in place. His other hand brought the syringe closer, aiming the tip at the soft, vulnerable skin above my collarbone.I clenched my teeth so hard my jaw ached, fighting against the dizziness that threatened to pull me under. As the cold metal touched my skin, my hand sho

Mateo's Pov The air in front of my face rippled after Kane’s hammer fist, missed my nose by a breath and the wind of its passage brushed my cheek.But Kane wasn’t done. The miss only fueled the inferno as he lunged again. This time, his left hook came in a wider, wilder arc. More rage, lesser control. It was sloppy…, but predictable.My eyes narrowed as the world slowed to a series of vectors and probabilities. I slammed my left heel down hard against the steel-reinforced concrete, grounding myself, twisting my torso sideways, to evade the charge.I launched to his left, ducking under the wild swing, and in a blink, I was already inside his guard. Still cuffed, the smell of his sweat and the blood from his split lip filled my senses.Using the narrow space between the shelves for leverage, I pushed off one with the sole of my boot, propelling myself forward. The shelf rocked and crashed down with a deafening, metallic CLANG, giving me the momentum I needed to raise my right knee.CR

Mateo's Pov Shaw’s frantic pounding against the iron door kept trying to shatter my focus. But I ignored it, because the only thing that existed right now was the bleeding, heaving mountain of a man standing ten feet from me as every ounce of my concentration was locked on Kane, reading the tremble in his legs, as well as the wild, pained light in his eyes.Although I'm not really sure I'd be able to do much, since my legs were about to give out; as they've been doing the heavy lifting this whole time while my hands have been half-asleep in these cuffs.I leaned slightly forward, furrowing my brows, and feeling the exhausted tension from my body all while trying to anticipate any and every move the big guy could possibly make."Open the damned door, Kane! What is wrong with you?!" Shaw’s voice cracked, followed by another echoing BANG as he slammed continuously against the metal. The noise was immense, but I let it wash over me, since I couldn't afford to be distracted."I... I can